Stray Rescue will not receive $250,000 from city of St. Louis

ST. LOUIS (KMOV) – For a year, the city of St. Louis has relied on a private shelter to run animal control in the city for free.

The shelter expected to eventually receive donated funds, but on Thursday, the city said “no.”

A St. Louis city Board of Alderman voted not to give $250,000 donated to the city animal shelter to the rescue shelter.

Stray Rescue took over for the city shelter which is now closed.

About a quarter of a million dollars was collected when customers voluntarily rounded up their water bill. That money was supposed to go toward the city animal shelter. That shelter closed down last year.

Randy Grimm who runs Stray Rescue says he could use the money to upgrade his shelter or possibly build a new one.

However, people donated that money under the impression it was going to the city animal shelter.

The Board of Alderman wants a more formal agreement with Stray Rescue.

Mayor Francis Slay is hoping Grimm keeps the organization running for the city.

Stray Rescue has operated a non-profit dog shelter for hundreds of strays since St. Louis city closed its only dog shelter last year.